It Has Been COLD in California

Finding yourself stranded in your car due to treacherous conditions like snow, ice, poor visibility and slick roads only to discover you have junk in the trunk, rather than the necessary roadside emergency supplies, can place you and your family in jeopardy.

Pay attention to the end of the post to win these emergency materials!

According to a new survey by State Farm® and KRCResearch, more than 60 percent of drivers had some sort of “junk” (non-emergency supplies) in their trunk ranging from extra clothes and shoes to used food or drink containers. While 99 percent of drivers had at least one emergency supply in their vehicle, such as spare tire or jumper cables, a mere nine percent carried all the essential emergency roadside supplies, including:

Jumper cables

Spare tire

Hazard triangle/road flares

Flashlight

First aid kit

Water

Blanket

“Even on a relatively short trip, you can find yourself stranded for several hours. From icy waters splashing up on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago to fog covering the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, it’s important to be prepared,” said Robert Medved, safety expert, State Farm. “These new findings highlight the importance of having the right emergency equipment so people can safely get back on the road faster.”

Medved also recommends drivers check at least twice a year to ensure the equipment is in working order. This means spare tires are properly inflated, first-aid supplies are current, all other supplies are fully stocked, and the cell phone charger is compatible with either a power outlet or an USB port in your car. Communication capability can be the number one lifeline in some roadside emergency cases.

How Your Junk Stacks Up:
New survey findings also revealed that sedan drivers (63 percent) are less likely to carry emergency supplies compared to SUV and truck owners (75 percent and 73 percent respectively). Also, only two in five drivers said they check that the emergency supplies in their vehicle are working at least twice a year, in line with what State Farm recommends.

Advice for Drivers:
State Farm encourages responsible driving every day of the year, and especially during cold weather months when inclement weather is more common. If you are stranded on the road, follow these tips:

Pull off the highway (if possible), turn on your hazard lights and use a road flare or reflectors to signal attention.

If you have a cell phone, call 911 and describe your location as precisely as possible. Follow any instructions from the dispatcher.

Remain in your vehicle so help can find you.

Run your vehicle’s engine and heater about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm.

Open a downwind window slightly for ventilation and clear snow from the exhaust pipe to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Having dealt with suddenly being stranded on the side of a highway 5 miles from the nearest exit and 50 miles from home, with two young children, I’d also like to suggest keeping this in your trunk as well:
— Non-perishable snacks, such as granola bars or jerky

I have so much junk in my car I would be ashamed to post a pic, but I carry a lemonade bag that covers most emergencies sewing kit, first aid kit, 3 kinds of tape on a slice of plastic from soda bottle, knife,rubber gloves lighter, and even a stub of candle lol I just hate surprises
Found this via Trash Can Bloggers